Francis James (congressman)

Francis James (* April 4, 1799 in Chester County, Pennsylvania; † 4 January 1886 in West Chester, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician. Between 1839 and 1843 he represented the State of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Francis James attended the public schools of his home and then the Gause 'Academy. After a subsequent law degree in 1825 and its recent approval as a lawyer, he began in West Chester to work in this profession. At the same time he proposed as a member of the short-lived Anti- Masonic Party launched a political career. From 1834 to 1836 he was a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania.

In the congressional elections of 1838, James was in the fourth electoral district of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of David Potts on March 4, 1839. After two re- election he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1843 three legislative periods. From 1841 he represented the interests of the Whig party there. Also since 1841, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business. The time from 1841 was marked by the tensions between President John Tyler and the Whigs. It was also at that time already been discussed about a possible annexation of the independent Republic of Texas since 1836 by Mexico.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives Francis James practiced as a lawyer again. In 1850 he was mayor (Chief Burgess) in West Chester. There he is on January 4, 1886 also died.